Six Nations, Ireland and Scotland hit, Wales and England fall

The Six Nations 2023 has opened under the sign of Ireland and Scotland. In Cardiff, in the match that opened the tournament, coach Andy Farrell’s Ireland defeated Wales 34-10, also winning the bonus point: decidedly negative the return of Warren Gatland to lead the Welsh, taking over from Wayne Pivac. And Steve Borthwick’s adventure at the helm of England also got off to a bad start, called to replace Eddie Jones, with the 29-23 defeat against coach Greg Townsend’s team at Twickenham. Tomorrow it will be Italy and France (on the field at 4 pm at the Olimpico in Rome) to complete the first day.

In Cardiff

—

Two minutes are enough for the Irish to break through in Cardiff: after a series of pick and go’s that force the Welshmen to defend themselves under the posts, with the powerful advance of James Ryan stopped a few centimeters from the line, it is the third center Caelan Doris who breaks through short pass by Conor Murray. Another six went by and, with the Welsh defense conceding and retreating, this time it was Ryan who pressed, again from close range and triggered by the pass of prop Finlay Bealahm (Jonathan Sexton converted both). Between 13′ and 19′ Dan Biggar and Sexton put in two goals, then the methods change but Ireland find their third try: James Lowe intercepts a pass from Biggar to Liam Williams at the limit of his 22 and after crossing the whole field ends in dive (Sexton transformation).

The defense also makes the difference, with Hugo Keenan and Lowe himself saving first on Rio Dyer and then on Biggar two almost made tries. Sexton extends with another placement and at the break it’s 27-3. At the start of the second half Liam Williams reopens it with a diving try under the posts, on a clearing pass from Biggar, after a surprise hit for the insertion to dig a break by George North (transformation by Biggar). However, the Irish defense stands between the Welsh and the comeback, which, even when it makes a mistake, as in the case of a tackle on North without the ball to stop a dangerous attack deep in the 22, makes up for it with Ryan’s splendid touch flight to steal the ‘oval on throwing by Scott Baldwin. In the 65th minute, Liam Williams drags Sexton to the ground by the neck and gets his yellow card back, leaving him short-handed. And in the 73rd minute, after several excellent defenses, with a sensational work in the breakdown, Ireland returned to besiege the Welsh goal line until, after yet another attempt to break through, Craig Casey (replaced Murray) pulled out the ‘oval to launch Josh van der Flier’s dive under the posts, for the try which (converted by Ross Byrne, who replaced Sexton) is worth the bonus and the final 34-10.

At Twickenham

—

In London, Scotland unlocked it exactly in the quarter of an hour: from a surprise deep lineout at the limit of 22, Finn Russell picked up and triggered Huw Jones’ break with a flat pass, the English seemed to be able to close the door, but after a couple of laps the oval goes out for Sione Tuipolotu who, with the defense swooping down on him, invents a grubber on which Jones himself lands first in the in-goal area to dunk (and Russell converts). England reacts and besieges the 22 Scots, but another invention is needed to overcome the defense which builds density in the centre: Marcus Smith receives, raises his head and kicks towards the right side completely uncovered, with the oval falling right in the arms of winger Max Malins, who just had to let himself slip into the end area for his first goal in the national team (Owen Farrell missed the difficult conversion). But in the 29th minute Scotland scored again with a feat by Duhan van der Merwe: the winger collected the ball practically from a standstill just inside his own half in the central area, suddenly started vertically avoiding a first man and then continued his race by jumping another four in slalom, until closing the incredible action with the dive in goal (Russell misses the not difficult transformation by hitting the post). On the other side in the 38th minute Malins scored twice, who after a couple of central advances found himself free wide on the right to receive a good pass from prop Kyle Sinckler and flew undisturbed to the flag. Farrell makes another mistake, but with time running out he scores an easy place which is worth 13-12 on which he goes into the break. A deep touch in the 48th minute gave the English a good possession always in progress, then, after a couple of rejected attempts, it was the prop Ellis Genge who broke from close range on Ben Youngs’ pass, with Farrell finally putting in the conversion. But three minutes go by and Scotland responds: small advance from Pierre Schoeman, who, tackled, lets it slip in making the ball available, but scrum-half Ben White is very quick to pick it up, who anticipates Ben Curry and jumps it in veronica, then aims the goal area, with a feint towards the outside, unbalances the full back Freddie Steward, then converges towards the inside and goes to crush (Russell converts). In the 65th minute a Scottish foul in the ruck gives Farrell a very comfortable place right in front of the posts, but Russell replies in the 69th minute and returns to -1. The match remains very good, but, in the midst of so much quality, it is above all a player who emerges, Russell: he does what he wants with his hands and feet, he sees spaces that the others cannot even imagine, he gives a show like perhaps no other player in the world today. In the 75th minute Scotland scored their fourth try, all in all deserved, again with van der Merwe: the ball travels fast from right to left through the delicate Scottish hands up to the last pass by number 8 Matt Fagerson for the winger, who collects , returning, Smith and Farrell jump and then with a last effort and with Malins clinging to his back he reaches out to dunk (Russell converts). Thus we enter the last minute with the English at -6 to besiege the 22 Scots: the defensive prowess of Jamie Ritchie decides on the last action at the end, who swoops down on Ben Earl after the tackle to cause the holding that gives the punishment and victory (with bonus) for Scotland.